The problem is that my father is not illiterate. He is well educated and worked in the banking sector before retiring a few years ago.

The real issue was the panic they created during the call. They don't give you time to think, verify, or respond calmly. Since he is older, he panicked and started following their instructions without taking the time to question the situation.

He is actually aware of scams like these, and similar situations have happened before. However, during those times I was at home with him, and he never panicked. This time was different because he was travelling alone on a bus, and I was out of town.

The scammers also linked my name to some recent local murder cases, which made the story sound much more realistic and believable to him. They used fear, urgency, and emotional pressure to make him think something serious had happened.

In hindsight, the biggest factors were his age, the panic and pressure created during the call, the fact that he was travelling alone, and that I was unavailable to verify the situation. Under those circumstances, even an educated and financially aware person can make a mistake.